The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is working with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on 4 collaborative research and development (R&D) projects through the "3+2" Canada-Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Program.
These projects will develop innovative materials, processes, technology, or products for large-scale, low-carbon hydrogen technologies within the Canadian and German energy systems.
"The NRC is proud to support R&D collaboration projects with partners in Germany, especially those focused on innovating for sustainable, clean growth and a low-carbon future." says Dr. Geneviève Tanguay, Vice President, Emerging Technologies, National Research Council of Canada. "This is the second initiative under the "3+2" program, following successful collaboration in 2021, to support R&D projects focused on artificial intelligence and value-added manufacturing. Working together with our international partners allows us to achieve our shared visions and goals faster and with greater impact."
How it came together
The "3+2" Canada-Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Program offers Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the unique opportunity to collaborate in R&D projects with German industrial partners and with high-calibre research institutes in both Germany and Canada, including the NRC's research centres.
To support these research projects, the NRC is investing over $6 million (CAD). The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is providing advisory services and funding support for the Canadian companies involved in the collaborative R&D projects, while partners from academic institutions are supported with funding through the NRC's National Program Office. The NRC's research centres are supported by the NRC's International Relations Office and project partners from Germany are receiving funding support from BMBF.
Projects began in Fall 2022 and will take place over the next 3 years. The "3+2" projects are in support of both countries' climate action goals, as the projects will look at ways to lower the cost of hydrogen production, as well as how to optimize its production and how to integrate it into industry's value chains.
About the projects
Al-H2O-REAC
This project is focused on developing a reactor for sustainable cogeneration of hydrogen, heat and alumina from combustion of recycled aluminum with water.
Canadian participants:
- GH Power Inc.
- The NRC's Security and Disruptive Technologies Research Centre
- Carleton University
German participants:
- ParteQ GmbH
- RWTH Aachen University
H2CliP
This project seeks to identify the optimal conditions for increasing the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen technologies and pathways, shaping new integrated hydrogen networks.
Canadian participants:
- Artelys Canada Inc.
- ESMIA Consultants Inc.
- The NRC's Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre
- GERAD - Group for Research in Decision Analysis
German participants:
- Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
- University of Stuttgart
HYER
This project is focused on developing a dynamic model of a renewable electrolysis plant to inform optimal operating and design conditions for improved electrolyser efficiencies.
Canadian participants:
- Pulsenics Inc.
- The NRC's Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre
- The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)
- University of Victoria
German participants:
- Segula Technologies GmbH
- University of Bayreuth (UBT)
INTEGRATE
This project is focused on the design and optimization of a novel AEM electrolyser designed for the gigawatt (GW) market to minimize the cost of hydrogen production through the development of high-performance, stable electrodes based on non-noble catalysts.
Canadian participants:
- Ionomr Innovations Inc.
- The NRC's Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre
- Simon Fraser University
- University of Alberta
German participants:
- Sunfire GmbH
- Fraunhofer IFAM
Learn more by exploring the NRC's current international collaboration opportunities.